Ballfield Maintenance & Preparation

Dennis "Flea" Blake is another coach up here in the foothills that loved his field. The McDowell football team finally got their own practice spot about four years ago, so the baseball coaches don't have to worry about having their outfield messed up.

I remember a particular time back when I was in high school (98) it came about two inches of snow overnight, but we had school the next day. Blake was out there praying and hoping for the sun to break out, about noon that day it did. We were all in PE class watching Blake out there dragging the infield and laying the drying agent onto it so we could host a scrimmage that afternoon. That man loved his field...

 

McDowell!?!?!

At Watauga when it snows they don't wait for the sun, the players get out and shovel it.

I've never been one to flame on this board, but McDowell has the worst playing surface I have ever seen. I wouldn't let my cows graze there. Right field is so far down hill that if you had a 5-foot-3 rightfielder, you couldn't see him from home plate. The last two or three years when I've been there, there were acres of burnt looking dead grass, occasionally interrupted by mounds of tall, unmowed green grass. Balls changed direction on the hop. It was really unsafe.

And it is really unfortunate because it has the best view looking out over the outfield fences as you'll see anywhere. There's a lot of potential, but right lately that's all it has been.

 

I agree about the condition of the field at MHS. But my son tells me that Assistant coach Alex Smith has gone to the School Board and that big changes are going to be made. Its about time that this need be met for the young people of our county.

 

A couple of years ago the baseball team actually helped the softball team shovel snow off the field at Watauga. And, there are times where you can see the baseball team practicing in the snow without shoveling. Last year, or the year before I watched part of a practice where the team practiced in 4-5 inches of snow on the field catching fly balls and working on relays.

 

Pete Hardee at Watauga spends a lot of time on the field. Back in the 90's the field was junk. Rob Hertler, coach at the time, organized the parents effort to put grass on it, build dugouts, and build the pressbox. Pete Hardee took over and has improved what was there and it continues to get better each year.

 

:1pics: Looking at those pictures on the website from 2002 with the old backstop, man that new brick wall and netting is going to look good. Sure has been a long time coming. Glad too see it it has finally come to fruitition.

 

pictures coming soon

 

Hard to take pictures when your help won't get finished. Just hard to find good help these days...